The social media is abuzz with questions and criticisms regarding Rosmah Mansor not being present when her husband, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, visited the flood victims.

However, former minister Zainuddin Maidin believes that the critics were not being sincere.

"All this while even media people were not comfortable with Rosmah's over the top publicity in mainstream newspapers and television. So why is her absence a big question?

"Isn't the motive to further erode Najib's popularity? Do they now think that Rosmah’s presence would hep improve Najib’s image?" he added.

Zainuddin also criticised an online news portal for raising the matter, saying that it was done with the intention to highlight negative aspects.

Since he had been one of Najib’s staunchest critics, the former minister’s latest blog posting also reeked with sarcasm when he defended the premier.

He said the report on Rosmah would not shroud Najib's "compassion and dedication in visiting flood victims day and night as soon as he set foot here despite the fatigue of an 11-hour flight after leaving a golf match in Hawaii".

"The sympathy, seriousness and sadness etched on his face in facing the suffering of the flood victims cannot be overshadowed by Rosmah's absence.

"Forget Rosmah and praise Najib," added the former top editor of Utusan Malaysia and close confidant of Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Zainuddin, who is popularly known as Zam, also said that Najib and his ministers involved in national security should learn from this disaster and not go on vacations during the monsoon season.

"Ministers who are not important like the tourism minister can go on vacations. But the PM, defence minister and home minister should take leave after the Budget when Europe is beautiful in autumn," he added.

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